Reborn As Noble

Queen Zephyra and the elite Amazarak warriors finally arrived at the sacred site.

The heavy stone doors opened with a deep rumble, revealing a vast chamber—ancient, solemn, and filled with quiet power.

Kenjirou's eyes widened as he stepped inside.

There, towering above them all, stood a colossal statue of the Amazarak Goddess. Her stony gaze looked down with both serenity and authority, arms stretched wide in eternal embrace.

At the heart of the chamber lay a carved stone pedestal. Upon it, a glowing crystal pulsed softly, as if alive. The entire hall was shaped like a grand temple, a place of reverence and power—its air thick with lingering magic.

Zephyra moved forward with calm grace and settled into a seat prepared by her attendants—an ornate throne-like chair draped in dark violet cloth and golden embroidery.

She crossed one leg over the other and gazed at Kenjirou with a cool smile.

"Kenjirou..."

He turned to her instantly. "Yes, my love?"

"Go to the center. And prepare."

Kenjirou nodded without hesitation.

He approached the pedestal where the glowing stone rested—its light flickering like a heartbeat. A surge of unseen energy brushed against his skin as he stood before it.

He took a deep breath.

Waiting. Ready.

As Kenjirou stood in the center, eyes locked onto the glowing stone, Zephyra raised her hand gently.

Without a word, the nearby attendants moved swiftly.

From behind the curtains of the temple chamber, several Amazarak servants stepped forward—each carrying carefully wrapped bundles. One held a carved wooden box containing a silver comb with strands of hair still clinging to it. Another brought folded pieces of dark silk clothing—once worn by Zania, their most loyal and deadly enforcer.

And finally… one servant stepped forward with a small, sealed glass jar. Inside, dark red liquid shimmered faintly.

Zania's blood.

Collected just before she was sent on her mission to infiltrate the Armand territory.

Zephyra's eyes narrowed slightly, remembering how Zania had failed—defeated and captured by that irritating boy, Javier De Armand.

But Zephyra didn't care about Zania's personal interests. Zania was no longer the focus.

This blood, this essence… was all that mattered.

The connection.

The key.

She gave a small nod. "Begin the preparation."

The servants placed the items—comb, clothes, and jar—at the base of the glowing stone, encircling it like offerings. One of the elder priestesses stepped forward, chanting in an ancient tongue, while the blood inside the jar began to swirl unnaturally.

Kenjirou watched, puzzled, but stayed silent.

Zephyra smiled darkly to herself.

This was the first step.

As the final drop of Zania's blood spilled onto the glowing stone, a pulse of crimson light surged across the floor—veins of magic spreading like cracks through the ancient stonework. The air thickened, humming with power, and the temple's torches flickered violently.

Then—she appeared.

Descending in a swirl of golden mist and divine radiance, the Goddess of Amazarak emerged, hovering just above the glowing seal. Her form was ethereal, radiant, and larger than life—yet her eyes were cold, sharp, and acutely aware.

"The blood has been offered... the bond is complete... the seal may now be undone..." Her voice echoed with unnatural grace, vibrating within the bones of everyone present.

The stone pedestal at the center split open with a blinding light. From it, a dark, immense pressure flooded the chamber—a power that had been sealed away for generations. The glowing runes faded, and an eerie silence followed, heavy with anticipation.

Zephyra's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

So it's true… Zania really was the key all along, she thought, her smirk deepening. Foolish girl. At least you served one final purpose.

She turned to Kenjirou, whose breathing quickened in response to the overwhelming energy.

"Touch it, Kenjirou." Her voice was smooth and commanding, laced with seduction and purpose. "With your new hand."

Kenjirou hesitated only for a moment. Then, with a determined gaze—and completely unaware of the deeper trap—he reached out with his artificial left arm.

As his fingers made contact with the core of the now-unsealed power, a violent surge of mana exploded from the stone.

Kenjirou screamed again—but this time, it was not just pain.

It was transformation.

Power poured into him like a tidal wave—overwhelming, addicting, corrupting. His body trembled, eyes widening with the intoxicating sensation of strength unlike anything he had ever known.

Zephyra watched from her throne-like seat, her smile cold.

Kenjirou stood in the center of the chamber, his body trembling as the power surged through him like a roaring storm. It wasn't just energy—it was divine. Tremendous. Vast. Something primal, ancient, and deeply unnatural.

He could feel it coursing through every vein, every fiber of muscle.

His breathing grew heavier.

"This... this is more than anything I've felt before…" he muttered, wide-eyed. "Stronger than the blessing I received from the Three Saints… even stronger than when I was first summoned to this world."

He clenched his fists—both of them.

His new left hand responded perfectly, glowing faintly with an ethereal aura as it radiated untamed mana.

"After I lost to that brat… after I lost this hand…"

He raised his arm toward the sky, laughing madly.

"NOW I'VE GAINED MORE! This strength—THIS is what I needed!!"

"NOW I CAN CRUSH THE ENTIRE ARMAND FAMILY!!!"

The elite warriors around him stood silently, tense. Even they could feel the pressure he now exuded—overwhelming and unstable.

But Zephyra only smirked, lounging elegantly on her seat as if everything was proceeding exactly as she had planned.

"Not yet, my love," she said sweetly, her voice both calming and commanding.

Kenjirou turned toward her, still pulsing with raw power. "Yes, my queen?"

Zephyra rose slowly, her gown shimmering in the divine light left behind by the ritual. She stepped toward him, placing a soft hand on his chest.

"There's something you must do first."

"What is it?"

"We must hunt down all the Celestial Vessels. One by one. Their power lies dormant across this world—hidden within people, sealed in ancient temples, waiting to be claimed."

She leaned close, her breath brushing his ear.

"Once you've absorbed all of them, once they all belong to you... then, and only then, will you have the strength to truly crush anyone you desire."

Kenjirou grinned, bloodthirsty. "Then I'll destroy them all. I'll take their power. And then I'll wipe out Javier De Armand and everything connected to him."

Zephyra smiled sweetly, her eyes gleaming with cold calculation.

Yes... destroy them all, my love...

All the Celestial Vessels… all the kingdoms…

All… except me.

( End Of Chapter )